Electronic gaming machines having mechanical or electro-mechanical wheel devices are described herein. The gaming machines include a cabinet, a display coupled to the cabinet, and a wheel coupled to the cabinet. The wheel includes a plurality of wheel segments positioned axially about a center point of the wheel. The plurality of wheel segments may be configured to rotate about the center point and to transform an appearance of the wheel. The wheel further includes an indicator configured to indicate an indicated wheel segment. The indicator may be configured to rotate about the center point.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An electronic gaming machine comprising: a cabinet; a display coupled to the cabinet; a wheel coupled to the cabinet, the wheel comprising: a hub centered on a central axis, a lift track rotatably coupled to the hub, the lift track centered on and orientated around the central axis, the lift track defining a contour, a plurality of wheel segments positioned axially about the hub, each wheel segment having an inner end hingeably connected to the hub, each wheel segment including a follower operatively coupled to the lift track such that relative rotation of the lift track with respect to the followers imparts distal or proximal movement to an outer end of each wheel segment of the plurality of wheel segments in succession in accordance with the contour of the lift track, an indicator coupled to the lift track and configured to rotate relative to the plurality of wheel segments in unison with the lift track, the indicator configured to indicate an indicated wheel segment, wherein the indicated wheel segment is one of the plurality of wheel segments, wherein the indicated wheel segment changes as the indicator rotates about the central axis; a wheel controller configured to control the relative rotation of the lift track and the indicator with respect to the plurality of wheel segments; a processor communicatively coupled to the display and the wheel controller, wherein the processor is configured to provide game play of a wager-based game to a player, display gaming information to the player through the display, detect a trigger event during game play of the wager-based game, and initiate a play of a bonus game by instructing the wheel controller to cause the relative rotation of the indicator and the lift track with respect to the plurality of segments; wherein the outer portion of the indicated wheel segment is moved distally or proximally with respect to the other wheel segments of the plurality of wheel segments; and wherein the presentation of the bonus game includes the indicator rotating relative to the plurality of wheel segments followed by a cessation of the rotation to indicate a winning one of the wheel segments.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the wheel further comprises a segment support ring, wherein the plurality of wheel segments are biased in a direction generally parallel to the central axis to rest against a surface of the segment support ring.
3. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the wheel further comprises a base plate, wherein the base plate is rotatably connected to the hub and configured to rotate about the central axis, wherein the indicator and the lift track are coupled to the base plate.
4. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the lift track includes a bump that defines a portion of the contour.
5. The gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein the bump is radially aligned with the indicator.
6. The gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of wheel segments are biased towards the lift track.
7. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein each follower of the plurality of segments includes a wheel operable to make contact with the lift track.
8. The gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising a light device, wherein the light device is configured to only illuminate the indicated wheel segment.
9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the wheel is coupled to the cabinet at a position above the display.
10. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wheel segments remains fixed in the same axially position relative to the cabinet, and the indicator and the lift track rotate about the center axis.
11. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the indicator and the lift track remain in a fixed position relative to the cabinet and the plurality of wheel segments rotate about the center axis.
12. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of wheel segments has a proximal face with indicia printed thereon, and the indicia printed on the winning one of the plurality of wheel segments corresponds to a prize awarded during the bonus game.
13. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the contour defines a shape such that the outer ends of two or more wheel segments moves at the same time in response to the relative rotation between the lift track and the plurality of wheel segments.
14. A wheel assembly for a gaming machine, the wheel assembly comprising: a hub centered on a central axis, a lift track rotatably coupled to the hub, the lift track centered on and oriented around the central axis, the lift track defining a contour, a plurality of wheel segments positioned axially about the hub, each wheel segment having an inner end hingeably connected to the hub, each wheel segment including a follower that rides along the lift track such that an outer end of each wheel segment can be raised and lowered in a direction that is generally parallel to the central axis in response to relative rotation of the lift track and the wheel segments, and an indicator configured to rotate about the central axis and configured to indicate an indicated wheel segment, wherein the indicated wheel segment is one of the plurality of wheel segments, wherein the indicated wheel segment changes as the indicator rotates about the central axis; wherein when the indicated wheel segment is pivoted about the inner end of the indicated wheel segment such that the outer end of the indicated wheel segment is raised or lowered with respect to the outer ends of the other wheel segments of the plurality of wheel segments depending on a shape of the contour of the lift track; and wherein the changing of the indicated wheel segment as the indicator rotates around the hub provides a visual wave effect to a viewer of the wheel assembly.
15. The wheel assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a segment support ring, wherein the plurality of wheel segments are biased in a direction generally parallel to the central axis to rest against a surface of the segment support ring.
16. The gaming wheel assembly of claim 15 , wherein the segment support ring is configured to confine the movement of each of the plurality of wheel segments in a radial direction.
17. The wheel assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a base plate, wherein the base plate is rotatably connected to the hub and configured to rotate about the central axis, wherein the indicator and the lift track are coupled to the base plate.
18. The wheel assembly of claim 17 , wherein the lift track includes a bump which defines a portion of the contour.
19. The wheel assembly of claim 18 , wherein the bump is radially aligned with the indicator.
20. The wheel assembly of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of wheel segments are biased towards the lift track.
21. The wheel assembly of claim 14 , wherein the follower includes a wheel.
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August 16, 2013
March 17, 2015
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